At a glance

Make Tray.io
Best for Power users who want complex automations at a lower cost than Zapier Enterprises needing complex multi-step integrations
Starting price $9/mo $595/mo
Free tier
Open source
Free tier available
Open source
AI Builder
API Management
Branching Logic
Data Mapping
Enterprise iPaaS
Error Handling
Multi-Step
Real-Time Webhooks
Visual Builder

Make

Strengths

  • Visual workflow builder is more powerful than Zapier
  • Significantly cheaper — more operations per dollar
  • Complex logic: branching, loops, aggregation
  • Real-time webhooks (not polling)

Weaknesses

  • Steeper learning curve than Zapier
  • Smaller app library than Zapier
  • Interface can be overwhelming for beginners
  • Documentation not as comprehensive

Tray.io

Strengths

  • Includes Enterprise iPaaS as a core feature, purpose-built for automation workflows
  • Includes AI Builder as a core feature, purpose-built for automation workflows
  • Pricing starts at $595/mo, which includes the full automation feature set
  • Established product with 14+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

  • Starts at $595/mo — on the expensive side, especially for small teams or solo users
  • Enterprise-focused design means the interface can feel heavy for smaller teams
  • Complex automations can break silently if a connected service changes its API
  • Overkill for freelancers or small teams who need something lightweight

The bottom line

Pricing: Make starts at $9/mo. Tray.io starts at $595/mo. Make is the more affordable option.

Feature gaps: Make offers Branching Logic, Data Mapping and Error Handling that Tray.io lacks. Tray.io brings AI Builder, API Management and Enterprise iPaaS that Make does not have.

Team fit: Make is geared toward small teams teams, while Tray.io is aimed at enterprise teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.

Where each tool shines: Make's biggest strengths are: visual workflow builder is more powerful than zapier. significantly cheaper — more operations per dollar. Tray.io's biggest strengths are: includes enterprise ipaas as a core feature, purpose-built for automation workflows. includes ai builder as a core feature, purpose-built for automation workflows.

Watch out for: With Make, users commonly note that steeper learning curve than zapier. With Tray.io, the main complaint is that starts at $595/mo — on the expensive side, especially for small teams or solo users.

Choose Make if...

  • You need a tool built for power users who want complex automations at a lower cost than zapier
  • You want to save on per-user costs — Make is $586.00/user/mo cheaper
  • You specifically need Branching Logic and Data Mapping
  • You care about significantly cheaper — more operations per dollar
  • Your team size fits the small teams profile Make is designed for

Choose Tray.io if...

  • You need a tool built for enterprises needing complex multi-step integrations
  • You specifically need AI Builder and API Management
  • You care about includes ai builder as a core feature, purpose-built for automation workflows
  • Your team size fits the enterprise profile Tray.io is designed for

Looking for more options?

Related comparisons

Explore more